Mark Hunter (photographer)

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Mark Hunter
Hunter in 2007
OccupationPhotographer
Websitewww.thecobrasnake.com

Mark Hunter, known as The Cobrasnake (born July 21, 1985),[1] is an American photographer. He is known for his photographs of American nightlife, particularly from the mid 2000s to the early 2010s.[2]

Early life[edit]

Hunter grew up in Los Angeles. He was raised by a single mom who worked as a dental hygienist for Bill Dorfman, a dentist popular with celebrities. Through his mother’s job, he was able to meet numerous celebrities as a boy.[3] He attended Santa Monica High School.[4]

Career[edit]

Hunter was an assistant to the artist Shepard Fairey for several years. Through his work with Fairey, he would attend parties and events attended by many well known artists and musicians. He would bring his camera along to photograph and would often be asked to take pictures for people who left their cameras at home. He started to post the photos to a website he created in early 2004 called Polaroid Scene.[5][1][6] His website of photos of late-night parties frequented by up-and-coming musicians, "it-kids", and indie celebrities is considered according to Vogue “one of the earliest and most impactful social photography sites of its kind”. It allowed anyone on the internet to have access to the emerging hipster subculture.[7] He changed the name of his website to thecobrasnake.com after receiving a cease and desist letter from Polaroid.[3]

In the summer of 2005, Hunter met Cory Kennedy at a Blood Brothers concert at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles. He took some photographs of her for his web site and they exchanged phone numbers. In January 2006, Kennedy and her best friend began an internship at his office, to fulfill a requirement from her high school for graduation.[8][9][10] In December 2005, Hunter posted photos of Kennedy with the title "JFK CORY KENNEDY", which began speculation that she was somehow related to the Kennedy family, which she is not. By April, Hunter noticed that every time he posted photos of Kennedy on his site, the web traffic from fashion community sites would spike. He quickly realized that Kennedy had the potential to be a star.[11]

Hunter in 2011

In 2010, Hunter opened Cobra Shop, a vintage store in the Hollywood and Highland Center mall. The shop sold exclusive pieces by some of Hunter’s friends including Steve Aoki Shepard Fairey, Jeremy Scott, and Todd Selby.[12]

In 2011, Hunter released a collection with Boy London. He also released a pair of high heeled shoes with Irregular Choice.[13]

In 2018, Hunter started Cobra Fitness Club, a twice-weekly group hike through Runyon Canyon.[14][15][16]

Book[edit]

In 2022, Hunter published The Cobrasnake: Y2Ks Archive, a monograph of his work going back to 2004.[17][18][19]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Cobra Snake is young, making money and still using coupons". Los Angeles Times. September 3, 2009. Archived from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  2. ^ Colyar, Brock (June 29, 2022). "You're a Star on thecobrasnake.com!". The Cut. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Mark Hunter (AKA "The Cobrasnake") Revisits His Early Aughts Heyday". W Magazine. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  4. ^ "The Cobrasnake Beat Trump Advisor Stephen Miller in a High School Election". Pitchfork. February 16, 2017. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  5. ^ "To See and Be Scene". Los Angeles Times. October 25, 2005. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  6. ^ "The Cobrasnake Looks Back on a Decade of Shooting Hipster Parties". Vice. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  7. ^ George, Cassidy (June 2, 2022). "Revisiting Indie Sleaze, as It Happened". Vogue. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  8. ^ Hubler, Shawn (February 25, 2007). "West magazine: The secret life of Cory Kennedy". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 12, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2007.
  9. ^ Sorgatz, Rex. "The Microfame Game and the New Rules of Internet Celebrity". New York. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  10. ^ Hubler, Shawn (February 25, 2007). "The secret life of Cory Kennedy". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 12, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  11. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 12, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ Studeman, Kristin (July 29, 2010). "Mark Hunter's Vintage Venture". Women's World Daily. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  13. ^ Krentcil, Faran. "Mark Hunter Shoes". Nylon. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  14. ^ Romeyn, Kathryn (February 24, 2015). "Mark 'The Cobrasnake' Hunter Is a Fitness Guru Now". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  15. ^ "This Legendary Club Photographer Is Bringing The Party To Fitness". Uproxx. April 27, 2018. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  16. ^ Battan, Carrie. "Former Hipster King Wants to Be a Fitness Guru". The Cut. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  17. ^ "How Indie Sleaze Went High Fashion". ELLE. May 5, 2022. Archived from the original on August 9, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  18. ^ Wise, Louis. "Meet Mark Hunter, the party photographer who chronicled the best of Noughties celebrity culture". The Times. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  19. ^ "The Cobrasnake Shots From the Hip". Los Angeles Magazine. August 12, 2022. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

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